Through Storytelling, Ministry Introduces Harmony to Students of MI Al-Ittihad

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Dozens of students from Madrasah Ibtidaiah (MI) Al-Ittihad participated in the School Goes to Library event held by the Ministry of Religious Affairs Library on Monday, September 14, 2026. During the event, messages regarding living in harmony and respecting differences were conveyed through storytelling to make them easier for children to grasp.

Storytelling was chosen as the primary method because it resonates with the world of children. Through stories, messages about harmony, which are actually quite complex, can be conveyed in simpler language and are easier for elementary school students to digest.

A Junior Librarian at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Library, Nur Rochmah, noted that various media can be used to enhance children's literacy. She emphasized that the choice of delivery medium must be tailored to the participants' age and level of understanding. "Because the participants are MI students, we chose media that is easy to digest and understand. Discussions about harmony, religious moderation, or ecotheology are often heavy in terms of material. That's why we chose to tell stories or tell stories so they can better understand our message," Nur Rochmah said.

Echoing this sentiment, Laily Rohayatin, Head of MI Al-Ittihad, believes that introducing harmony is highly relevant to the lives of children who will grow up and interact with people from diverse backgrounds. "We live in a society not only with those of the same faith or religion. They must also learn to respect others, starting at school, then in their environment, and especially later in the workplace," Laily explained.

Through the "School Goes to Library" program, children were not only introduced to the functions and collections of the library but also familiarized with the values of living in harmony and respecting differences from an early age. The approach was deliberately designed to relate to their daily lives, ensuring the messages were easily understood.

The activity, which took place at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Library in Jakarta, is expected to provide students with the necessary skills to cultivate a tolerant attitude and respect for differences, both within the school environment and in the future in the wider community.